Boat Paint & Supplies

Boat paint is one of our specialties. We know that painting your boat can be a daunting project. What kind of paint? What kind of prep? Whether you are considering a topside or bottom side paint job, we have the boat paint and the know how you need to make smooth sailng, er, painting. Just give us a call. We carry many lines and brands of both Bottom Paint in white, red blue and other colors as well as Topside Paint in many colors.

Boat Paint & Supplies Best Sellers

Wet Paint

Picking a Paint

We all like our boats to look sharp when we are cruising around on the waterways. There is a certain pride that comes from knowing you look good. So, most of us take great care in keeping them washed, cleaned, and protected. No matter how much washing and care we take with our boats, however, eventually the time comes when they need to be re-painted. Painting time brings along with it some big questions. We all know that no matter what is being painted, the type of paint matters. From debating whether our living room walls should be semi-gloss or flat to deciding if rust-protectant paint is necessary to spruce up our five-year-oldâ€™s red wagon, we have all been there. When it comes to boats, however, the choices we make are even more important. After all, the boat is going to be sitting in water at least part of the time and quite possibly exposed to salt air and water. The paint needs to be durable and look good, preferably without breaking the bank.
Whether or not your boat is in the water full time or being tailored and whether it spend its time in salt water or fresh water is one of the biggest questions you need to answer before painting your boat â€“ especially the bottom of your boat.

Bottom paints come in what they call hard antifouling paints, soft or ablative antifouling paints, or totally non-toxic paints. Antifouling paints are purposed to keep sea creatures and slime from growing on the bottom of your boat. Keeping these things from growing on your boat will protect the finish of your boat and also increase your speed and fuel consumption. Hard paints tend to last longer, but dissolve away in an un-uniform manner, so more scraping is needed before repainting.

Ablative paints may wear away more quickly, but they wear away evenly meaning that scraping is often not needed before repainting. Anyone in a saltwater environment is going to want to choose one of the antifouling paints. Boaters that travel at higher speeds and do longer runs will want to choose a hard paint as they last longer. Hard paints are also a better choice for sailboats and racing boats as they provide less drag. Hard paints are a more traditional choice, but ablative paints are becoming much more popular as the maintenance is easier. The non-toxic coatings will not protect your boat in the same way but will not harm any marine life that they come in contact with. If however, your boat is in fresh water and especially if it does not stay in the water, these non-toxic coatings are a great choice.

Bottom paints come in limited colors and are mostly for function. Topside paints are where the fun comes in. A fresh coat of paint can make your boat look new again.

Getting Ready to Roll

Before any painting, you should keep a few things in mind. First and foremost, read the paint can. Manufacturers put directions, tips, and recommendations on the can for a reason. Different paints may have different application directions, dry times, or other special instructions. Most problems people run in to with boat painting simply come from not following the directions. After reading the directions, prepare the boat for painting. Any waxy residue left on the boat needs to be removed with a solvent and sanding.

Before you start to paint the boat, you should fix anything that needs to be fixed so epoxy should be used on any holes and the surface should be smooth. Again, follow manufacturer instructions, but you most likely need to apply a primer, sand, and apply another coat of primer before applying your paint. Just like any job, you want to make sure you have everything that you need before you get started. That includes solvent cleaners, and (unless you like the paint splattered look on clothing) good protective coveralls. Luckily, Marine Dock Supply carries a wide array of all your painting needs from brushes, to paint, to solvents, to coveralls, and beyond.

Protective Coveralls

No one wants to breathe in too many of those paint fumes. Marine Dock Supply carries face respirator masks to completely protect you from breathing in any chemicals. The 3M Marine Â½ Facepiece LG ULT Reusable system is one great choice. It purifies the air you breathe and offers a silicone face mask for comfort while wearing. This is great for use during applying spray paint. If you are doing tasks like sanding, you will also find the more surgical mask style of masks. For example, 3M makes the sanding and Fiberglass Mask and sells it in a multipack. Goggles are also important for protecting your eyes from the outdoor UV rays, dirt, sand, grit, and irritating chemicals. Ones like the 3M Marine Chemical Splash Goggles with Clear Lens offer indirect venting to allow air to circulate and elastic head straps for a snug fit. Gloves are an essential for painting. At Marine Dock Supply you will find every type of gloves from jersey to reusable to disposable. We will keep your hands clean while you do this dirty job. To keep your regular clothes from being your â€œpainting clothesâ€ Marine Dock Supply sells a full line of protective coveralls to keep yours clean. Buffalo Industries, for example, produces many choices including those with hoods and those without. Their SMS material is breathable but will protect you from paint and particles. It even has pockets! Pair it with booties, like Buffaloâ€™s Non-Skid Boot Covers and you will be protected from head to toe!

Solvent Cleaners

Solvent Cleaners have many purposes to boat owners. You may need to get rid of the registration of a previous owner or other sticker, perform weekly care, or make your boat sparkle and shine; solvents are going to help you get the job done. Marine Dock Supplyâ€™s best selling solvent is Evercoatâ€™s Acetone. It is a high quality resin-grade thinner and cleaner. After you are done painting, you can clean everything from your hands to your brushes to the spray equipment with this solvent. It also can be used to thin polyester resins when you are spraying them (but donâ€™t think them more than 5%). If thatâ€™s not exactly what you are looking for, no worries. One of our 75 solvents will surely meet your needs.